I have a 10 month old male lab. I was wondering if anyone had any good tactics to learn the stay command. He does well at heal, sit, retreive, and mark commands. But just will not stay when told. He will only stay when sitting beside me. Does anyone have any pointers or ways to help him learn. Thanks for the help!

Forget the stay command altogether. It's useless. Sit means sit. Continue to reinforce the sit command. I am sure he understands "No" right? When you make him sit and he looks like he is about to break or move you reinforce "Sit".

No e- collar? If not take and stake the dog on a short leash keep making him stay. If he moves go over and sit him back down re- command the stay. Do it over and over till the dog will stay. Do not let the dog off the leash until it stays for a bit. If you are going to train dogs the best tool is an e- collar. Another way get a check cord and have someone help you pull the dog back and re- sit him keep him on the check cord till he does what you want. Do not let him win. Next time get him to stay on sit. Let him know that he should stay till he is commanded to move.he will know if you say sit he can not move till you give the command to come or here. It's a thought game to play but keep it always the same. After a while you say sit he will not move till given a another command. Fix this now or your dog will always break on you when you hunt. If this happens stake him down till he doesn't break. Also there are some great vids to watch. Another thing try and join a local H.R.C. Club there are a ton of guys that will help you with your dog. If you do any field hunting layout style the last thing you want is a dog that breaks or creeps up on you. I know you would never shoot your dog but you never know what the other guys will do! Good luck. If you ever hunt over a well trained dog you will never hunt with out one again.

Thanks for the help, Ill give it a shot!

Best way I have seen "sit", stay is a waste of time, reinforced to be stay is to put him on a "sit" and try to pull him off of it with the lead. With dog at "sit" step away from him by reinforcing "sit", turn and face the dog and keep giving him the "sit" command while stepping side to side and backing away. Once he will sit, or really stay, then apply pressure with the lead, still using the "sit" command over and over if needed. Every time he starts to raise up step toward him say "SIT" and snap the lead up and put him back down. You can slowly start reinforcing it with the e collar (if you have one) once you feel he underatands what you are trying to do but the choke collar is really all you need in the begining.
This is a really important command and can make life a lot easier around the house and in the field.

The actual command is not the issue. Use "sit" or "Stay" or "Down" or "Muck" or "Tomato" or.................My point is, your not there yet, but I bet you will get there. You have a 10 month old pup. Keep inforcing your command....100% of the time and be 100% consistant. FYI: I use "Sit" for sit and "Down" to lay down. I agree, you don't need the "Stay" command cause both Sit and Down mean to remain in that place until another command is given. If he moves, take him back to the spot, give the same command. Corrections come into play but only after your dog knows the command and what is expected. Don

Just an update, with you guys recommedations my pup is doing great. I able to get 10 to 20 feet away from him before he trys to break. I think hes getting it. Thanks for the help!

I did buy a shock collar. What is the recommended level to put it on. Mine go from 1 to 8. Also at what time during training do you use it. If he does something wrong to you pop him right then and then correct? Need advice I definitely don't want to end up with a bad dog. Thanks

The dog needs to know the command before you put a collar on him. The dog needs to be "conditioned" to the collar

I like place training to help with staying in one spot. I really like a raised platform even if it is just a piece of plywood set on top of 2 x 4's on the side. I have two platforms in my back yard about 2' x 2' and 1' off the ground that I will put the dogs on and leave them for hours while working around the yard. I do not call dogs off of "place" or "sit" but go back and get them. See Aavatar.

X2 on the collar conditioning and that the dog needs to KNOW the command before you use the collar.